Battle of Montmartre

Battle of Montmartre
Part of the War of the Sixth Coalition
Date March 30, 1814
Location Clichy and Montmartre in Paris, France
Result Coalition victory
Belligerents
French Empire Sixth Coalition:
Austria
Kingdom of Prussia,
Russian Empire
Commanders and leaders
Bon Adrien Jeannot de Moncey,
Auguste Marmont
Karl v. Schwarzenberg,
Tsar Alexander I,
King Frederick William
Strength
23,000 107,000

The Battle of Montmartre[1] was fought on March 30, 1814, between Allied forces and the forces of Napoleon's French Empire. The Allies were victorious, entering Paris, and as a result, Napoleon was soon forced to abdicate.

Contents

Background

The two main Allied Armies linked up at Meaux on 28th March 1814, the now 107,000[2] strong Allied forces began to march on Paris. Only 23,000 troops[2] and incomplete defences defended Paris from the Allies.

Battle

The Allies approached Paris from the eastern and northern sides, Marshal Moncey commanding the National Guard made a stand at Clichy, but his two Corps were beaten back at 4:00 pm and retreated into the Belleville Heights, and the Suburb of Montmartre. At the Suburb of Montmartre Marshal Marmont was in command, and the final action took place at 2:00 am on the 31st March.

Conclusion

Following the final action Marmont opened negotiations with the Allies, which started a series of events leading to Napoleon's abdication. Napoleon was exiled to Elba, but would return to France the next year, leading to Seventh Coalition.

Footnotes

  1. ^ Chandler. p.286. Chandler recognizes this event as “Action of Montmartre.”
  2. ^ a b Chandler. p.286.

References